FromLate Latinproximatus, past participle ofproximare(“to draw near, approach”), fromLatinproximus(“nearest”), superlative ofprope(“near”).
proximate (notcomparable)
- Close orclosest;adjacent.
1681,Thomas Burnet, “The Deluge and Dissolution of the Earth”, inThe Theory of the Earth, 3rd edition, London: R. N[orton], translation ofTelluris Theoria Sacra, published1697,page73:And writing a Theory of the Deluge here, as we do, we were to exhibit a Series of causes whereby it might be made intelligible, or to shew[sic] theproximate Natural Causes of it;[…]
1857,John Scandrett Harford,The Life of Michael Angelo Buonarroti, 2nd edition, London: Longman & Roberts, published1858,page154:[…] the basis of a reformed constitution was laid, by the appointment of a grand council, consisting of all such citizens as could prove that theirproximate ancestors had shared in the offices or honours of the state.
2019 March 11, Nick Kotsopoulos, quoting John Kelly, “Worcester plan aims to stop owners from paving front lawns”, inWorcester Telegram[1]:The proposed changes recognize that adequate off-street parking is an important, and often challenging, issue in many residential neighborhoods, and attempt to balance the need for off-street parking with appropriate limitations, especially in areas visible from the street orproximate to neighboring properties.
- (law) Immediately preceding or following in a chain of causation.
- About to take place;impending.
close or closest; adjacent
proximate (pluralproximates)
- (linguistics) Agrammaticalmarker that distinguishes a relativelysalientreferent in a given context from a relatively non-salient (obviative) one.
- “proximate”, inWebster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.:G. & C. Merriam,1913,→OCLC.
- William Dwight Whitney,Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “proximate”, inThe Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.:The Century Co.,→OCLC.
proximāte
- second-personpluralpresentactiveimperative ofproximō
